A Nurse at the Front: The First World War Diaries of Sister Edith Appleton - Hardcover

The diaries, which reminded me of Vera Britten s Testament of Youth, are a great read, not only for the information that they provide about nursing on the front line but also for the details they offer about the First World War more generally. They are also very amusing and have lots of photos and little drawings by Edith herself... I think Appleton s diaries will be useful to anyone with ancestors who were nurses or doctors in the First World War, soldiers who served in France or Belgium or, indeed, if you just want to learn more --Who Do You Think You Are? magazine

This book, the second in a series of four war diaries produced in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum, details the experience of a nurse working close to the Western Front in the First World War --Britain at War

This book, the second in a series of four unique War Diaries produced in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum, will tell a story that is rarely heard: the experiences of a nurse working close to the Western Front in the First World War. Incredibly, Edith Appleton served in France for the whole of the conflict. Her bravery and dedication won her the Military OBE, the Royal Red Cross and the Belgian Queen Elisabeth medal among others. Her diary details with compassion all the horrors of the 'war to end wars', including the first use of poison gas and the terrible cost of battles such as Ypres, but she also records what life was like for nurses and how she spent her time off-duty. There are moments of humour amongst the tragedy, and even lyrical accounts of the natural beauty that still existed amidst all the destruction.